Well another season has come an gone...

[Aaron H]

...with only one pair of martins at my small colony, but the pair
fledged 4 young this year...
I hope my colony will get a better start next season, If my Asy male
can make it back for a forth year along with the female of this past season.
I hope everyone has had a great martin season this year and a lot
of young were raised to restock the martin colonys.I have noticed
the colonys around my area this year, Their seemed to be a lot
fewer birds at each colony than last year.
Also i would like to say to all those trying to get a start in martins
to never give up, Because i know your day will come Just keep
reading the forum, their are some great landlords on hear that can
help to make your set ups better, I tired for years to get a start
in martins without any luck, but then i found the forum and i started
reading.I started seeing i was doing a lot wrong with trying to get
my colony started.
So i am very thankful to have found the pmca.
Good luck again to everyone with this great hobby.

[Tallsilver]

Hey, don't get discouraged! At my former home, about 12 miles away from the one I built in 2008, I had 35 of 35 cavities filled in '08. At the new home, I had none in '08, '09, one pair in '10, one pair in '11. This year the one pair came on Feb 23rd, a second pair a couple weeks later, then in a couple more weeks I had 14 pair!

AND, in the last 3 weeks, there have been as many as 50 birds on the housing for periods of time. But what is really amazing is that just before dark there has been a large flock of martins coming by. Must be a roost somewhere close. This large group just flies 'round and 'round for about 3-6 minutes then moves on. A very welcome sight to see.

Crazy how there were almost no martins for 3 years and then have this happen. I'm offering 48 gourds so maybe next year I'll have a full house!!

[Aaron H]

Hello...Tallsilver, Thanks for your reply on my post,
It sure sounds like you have a great start now with
your new colony that is great to hear.
I have tried for years to get a start in martins but I
didn't have the best set up for them, to many trees
but i took down all the trees and that really opened
up my place a lot.
This was my 3rd season with only the one pair but they
bring in a lot of lookers so maybe next year will be my
year to expand
I thought some of the babys might make it back to my
house but no such luck
Well hopefully their are a lot young that will make the round
trip this fall and fill everyone's gourds next spring
Thanks again to all that put information on the forum
you don't know how helpful that it is.